Chapter 35
Lyra woke well past dinner and, once again, Jake wasn’t there. The disappointment settled in quickly, but after talking with Lyle and learning Jake had missed his entire afternoon training to take care of her, guilt soon followed. He should have been able to trust her to rest, not feel obligated to drop everything just to keep her in line. He was the Alpha. He had an entire pack to manage, not just her.
After making herself something to eat, she felt considerably better. She spent some time going over the journals with Donovan, though he still hadn’t found anything new, just more entries about auras and colored mists. Nothing that revealed what their mother truly was.
It was well after eleven, and sleep refused to come, which was unsurprising, given how much of the day she’d slept away. She lay on her bed reading a human medical journal when a soft tap came at her window.
Her heart leapt. She crossed the room quickly, already catching his scent before she pushed the window open. Jake stood just outside, hands stuffed in his pockets, looking sheepish.
“Wasn’t sure you’d be awake,” he murmured as she leaned out toward him.
“You know,” she said, “you could use the front door. Or mindlink me. I’d let you in.”
He gave a faint smile. “Your dad found me in your bed again this afternoon. I think next time he might actually skin me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m twenty–five, Jake. He doesn’t get to decide who I sleep with.”
“Still, he’s your dad. Makes it awkward.” He glanced around, then back up at her. “You know, you could stay at the packhouse. I’ve got a whole wing to myself.”
She raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Are you propositioning me?”
“Maybe.”
A second window opened, and Jake glanced over.
“If you’re going to talk,” Donovan muttered, “be quieter about it. Some of us don’t want to hear your propositions.”
“Sorry, Donnie.” Jake bit his lip, trying to hide a grin.
“Yeah, right.” Donovan’s window slammed shut.
Lyra clapped a hand over her mouth, laughing. Jake grinned, trying to muffle his own laughter.
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< Chapter 35
“Take a walk with me,” he said suddenly, reaching up to offer his hand.
“I’m in my pajamas.”
He shrugged. “So? It’s a nice night. You don’t even need a jacket.”
“I need to change.”
“Don’t bother.” He stepped closer to the window. “I don’t care.”
“I don’t even have a bra on.”
“Even better.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Goddess, what has gotten into you?”
Jake grinned, catching her hand. “Come on.”
“Can I at least get shoes?”
He pretended to consider it, then released her hand. “Fine. I’ll allow it.”
“Gee, thanks.” She rolled her eyes and hurried to grab sneakers from the closet.
+25 Points
Climbing out of the window wasn’t graceful, but Jake didn’t seem to mind. He caught her by the hips, steadying her as she stepped outside. Once she was down, he pulled her against him and kissed her softly.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked against her lips.
“Much better.”
He laced his fingers through hers and led her into the woods.
“I’m sorry,” she said as they walked. “About earlier. I shouldn’t have gone to training.”
Jake gave her a serious look. “You really shouldn’t have. I’m just glad you didn’t get hurt
worse.”
“I’m not trying to take you away from your work,” she murmured, staring down at her feet. “I know you’ve got a lot going on. You shouldn’t have to worry about me too.”
He stopped, turning to face her. “Lyra, for, the last five days, you’re all I’ve thought about. All I’ve worried about.” He reached up and cupped her cheek. “Yes, I have a pack to run. But I also can’t seem to stay away from you. I wasn’t even planning to come over tonight. I told myself I’d give you space. But I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
He brushed his lips lightly against hers.
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< Chapter 35
+25 Points
“I know you’re not trying to pull me from my duties. I make my own choices about where I spend my time. And I want to spend it with you.”
Lyra’s breath hitched, the intensity in his emerald eyes holding her still.
“I want to be with you,” he said softly, thumb brushing her cheek.
Her chest tightened, and for a moment she couldn’t speak.
She reached up and rested her hand over his heart. “I want that too.”
Jake bent and kissed her again, slower this time. His hands slid around her waist, drawing her in until there was no space left between them. The air was cool, but his body radiated warmth. She curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt, letting the kiss deepen until the world disappeared.
When they finally parted, her lips tingled and her breath came unevenly.
“Should we be doing this out here?” she asked, her voice teasing.
Jake laughed low and leaned his forehead against hers. “Probably not. But I don’t care.”
He ran his fingers along her jaw, down to her neck. “You drive me insane. I tried to focus all day, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
She smiled, heart fluttering. “I thought you’d be mad that I didn’t stay home.”
Jake’s gaze softened. “I know why you went. I can’t stay mad at you.”
Lyra nodded, then tilted her head. “So… if I said I didn’t want to go back inside yet…”
He arched a brow. “I’d say I had something in mind.”
“Oh yeah?”
He stepped behind her and wrapped his arm’s around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “The clearing’s about five minutes from here. I was thinking of taking you there.”
She laughed softly. “You were planning this?”
“I didn’t plan anything. But I had hopes.”
She turned in his arms and brushed a kiss along his jaw. “Lead the way, Alpha.”
He grinned, took her hand, and started walking.
When they reached the clearing, Lyra looked up at him. “Is this where you tell me to take my clothes off again?”
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<Chapter 35
He chuckled. “Only if you want to. But I’m not promising to keep my hands to myself.”
She flushed, and he reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Come sit with me,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
+25 Points
He sat, tugging her down between his legs, her back against his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist as he buried his face in her neck, kissing just beneath her ear with deliberate, open–mouthed kisses. A shiver ran through her.
“You smell so good,” he murmured, grazing the lobe of her ear with his teeth.
“What do I smell like to you?” she asked, breath catching.
“Honey and strawberries,” he growled into her ear. “You smell like the best damn dessert I’ve ever had.”
“Hmmm,” was all she could manage as he continued kissing, licking, teasing. She tilted her head, granting him better access.
His hands slid to the hem of her shirt, pushing it up, palms gliding over her stomach. She shuddered, her skin catching fire under his touch.
“You can tell me to stop,” he whispered against her ear. “I mean it.”
She turned her head to meet his eyes, then smiled as he kissed her temple. “I don’t want you
to stop.”
“Good.” His voice was husky. “Because I really don’t want to either.”
His hands moved higher, brushing under her breasts. She arched into him, aching for more. Finally, she guided one of his hands up, placing it over her breast.
He groaned, dragging his thumb over her n****e until a gasp slipped from her lips. “You like that?”
She nodded, biting her lip as his other hand joined, both teasing her mercilessly.
“Has anyone touched you
like this before?” he asked, his voice thick.
“No,” she moaned. “No one’s ever wanted to.”
“Their loss.”
She turned her head and kissed him hard, and he took over the kiss with a deep hunger, his tongue claiming her. A growl rumbled in his chest, and the scent of her arousal filled the air.
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< Chapter 35
He slipped a hand from her breast and into her soft pajama pants, finding her bare. His fingers trailed along her seam before dipping between her folds, gently massaging her clit. She groaned, arching into his touch, her whole body lighting up.
He caught her lip between his teeth as he slid two fingers inside her, his other hand gliding up to gently grip her throat.
“Look at me,” he murmured.
She opened her eyes to find him staring at her, close enough to count every fleck of gold in his green gaze. His thumb circled her clit as his fingers worked her from within. She knew she was going to come embarrassingly fast, but she couldn’t stop it. The pressure coiled low in her belly, then broke all at once. She cried out his name as his fingers wrung every ounce of pleasure from her.
She slumped against him, boneless. The hand at her throat slid into her hair, tilting her face toward his. He kissed her, soft, sweet, and tender, sending her heart slamming against her ribs harder than the orgasm just had. A wave of emotion she didn’t dare name tore through her as he gently nuzzled his face into her neck, whispering words of praise against her skin.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
